FC Editor's note: The following is a document "borrowed" from the FDA. Consumers need to know that the industry has a right to defending their interest. Consumers have a right to suing the companies whose food causes food poisoning due to contamination of E coli or Salmonella or whatever. But there will be a negative consequence consumers will have to face. We have been worrying for years that one of these days the industry will by all means reduce outbreaks at the expense of loss in nutritional value, which may have a negative impact on consumers' health in a long run.
The fact is the food poisoning risk cannot be completely eliminated without having the nutritional value for a food substantially destroyed. Why? food is too cheap and the industry cannot invest enough to guarantee its safety.
On
August 22, 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a
final rule that allows the use of irradiation to make fresh iceberg
lettuce and fresh spinach safer and last longer without spoiling.
Irradiating
fresh iceberg lettuce and spinach will help protect consumers from
disease-causing bacteria. Infections from bacteria such as
Salmonella and
Escherichia coli O157:H7 (
E. coli)
continue to be a public health problem in the United States. Illnesses
from these bacteria range from uncomfortable symptoms to
life-threatening health problems. Severe illness from
E. coli, for example, can lead to kidney failure.
In
addition to controlling harmful bacteria and other microorganisms,
irradiating fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach will allow the
greens to keep longer without spoiling.
The foods affected by the final rule are
- loose, fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach
- bagged iceberg lettuce and spinach
Irradiation and Safety
Irradiation
(also sometimes termed "ionizing radiation") is a process of treating
products with a measured dose of radiation. Food irradiation is not
new. FDA has conducted irradiation safety evaluations for more than 40
years and has determined the process to be safe for use on a variety of
foods.
After studying the safety of irradiating fresh
iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach, FDA has determined that these
greens, when irradiated under the conditions specified in the final
rule, retain their nutrient value and are safe to eat.
FDA
considers irradiation a complement to, not a replacement for, proper
food-handling practices by producers, processors, and consumers.
Irradiation is an additional tool that may be used to reduce the levels
of disease-causing microorganisms on fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh
spinach.
Irradiation does not take the place of
washing. FDA continues to recommend that consumers wash fresh and
bagged produce before eating unless the packaging specifically states
that the product has been prewashed.
Irradiation of Other Foods
Many
foods are already permitted to be irradiated to control bacteria and
keep the foods longer without spoiling. For example, FDA approved the
irradiation of red meat in 1997 after reviewing numerous scientific
studies conducted worldwide on the effects of irradiation on various
meat products. Other examples of foods that may be irradiated to kill
microbes include spices, poultry, and molluscan shellfish (such as
oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops).
FDA has
previously allowed lettuce, spinach, and some other foods to be
irradiated to kill insects or to slow spoilage. However, the doses used
for these purposes are lower than what is required to kill most
disease-causing bacteria.
How Will I Know if My Fresh Iceberg Lettuce or Spinach Has Been Irradiated?
Irradiation
of iceberg lettuce and spinach is voluntary on the part of food
processors. FDA requires that foods that have been irradiated bear the
"radura" logo along with the statement "Treated with radiation" or
"Treated by irradiation."
FDA’s Role in Safe Irradiation of Food
FDA
regulates sources of irradiation (the equipment used) for foods as
"food additives" that require approval before being allowed on the
market. FDA approves a source of irradiation for use on food only after
it has determined that irradiating the food is safe at a maximum dose
specified by FDA. The agency continues to evaluate the safe use of
irradiation in additional foods.
This article appears on FDA's Consumer Health Information Web page (www.fda.gov/consumer), which features the latest updates on FDA-regulated products. Sign up for free e-mail subscriptions at www.fda.gov/consumer/consumerenews.html.
For More Information
FDA's Fact Sheet on Irradiation
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/irradlet.html
Date Posted: August 22, 2008
